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(ANA-MPA) -- The new orders index in the industrial sector (measuring
both domestic and external markets) dropped 29.9 pct in August,
compared with the corresponding period last year, after a decline of
7.5 pct recorded in August 2008, the National Statistical Service
announced on Tuesday.

The statistical service, in a report, attributed the sharp drop of the
index to a 32.4-pct fall in the capital goodsâ orders index, a 33.5-pct
drop in the intermediate goodsâ orders index and an 11.3-pct fall in
the durable goodsâ orders index. The non-durable goods orders index
fell 13.4 pct.

The service also said that the domestic new orders index fell 18.4 pct
and the external market new orders index dropped 44.1 pct in August.

The statistics service announced that the turnover index in the
industrial sector dropped 25 pct in August, after an increase of 12.4
pct recorded in the same month last year.